Water chamber



March 12 1929. K, KAMM LLE 1,705,089

' WATER unmask Filed Jan. 28, 1 927 IN VEN TOR.

I BY

A TTORNE Y.

KARL KAI/Mm.

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL KAMMI J'LLER, 0F FARLSRUHE IN BADEN, GERMANY.

WATER CHAMBER.

Application filed January 28, 1927, Serial No. 164,268, and in Germany December 6, 1924. I

ply invention relates to water chambers for use as supplemental reservoirs, such as described in my applicatlon, Ser. No. 68,238,

filed on Nov. 1.0, 1925, of which this is a continuation in part.

Such water chambers are used to supply water to turbines and similar water-consum ing plants. In such plants, the water is usually conducted from a main reservoir to a supply gallery through a more or less steep drop-pipe. These auxiliary water-chambers.

are usually constructed with a vertical shaft and-an upper and lower compartment, thevertical shaft communicating with these compartments and the supply gallery.

I have found that for the economic opera tion of such water chambers, it is necessary that the velocity of the flow of water in the supply gallery should as quickly as possible accommodate itself to the variations in the load, in which case, the compartments of the water chamber can be made of smaller dimensions than is otherwise necessary. The velocity of the flow of water in the supply gallery depends on the difference of pressure 1n the water chamber, which difference of pressure is produced by the ascending and descending column of water in the shaft ofjthe water chamber, and it is of importance to maintain as great a difference of pressure as possible, if the greatest efliciency is to be obtained with the greatest economy in space.

Such economy in 'space'has already been effected by the provision in the upper compartment ofthe water-chamber, of an overflowsill, whereby a higher water column is initially produced. Now, I havefound that by the arrangement of a similar sill for the lower compartment of the water-chamber, I can still further improve the efficiency of the device, the the effect of the sill in the lower compartment differs from'that of the overflow-sill in the upper compartment.

For a better understanding of my invention. I refer to the accompanying drawing,

in which I have illustrated my invention and in which the sectional Fig. 1 shows the waterchamber provided with the upper and lower compartment and the connecting shaft, the two compartments being formed in the rock; Fig. 2 is a section along line 2+2 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and t are sectional views of a modifi-- cation, the shaft being shown arranged laterally of said compartment, Fig. 4 being a section along.line44: in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is,

a vertical sectional view of a modification, in

which the compartments of the water chamber are above ground, Fig. 6 is ahorizontal-section along line 66 in Fig. 5.

According to Fig} 1, A is the upper com partment of the water-chamber equipped with the overflow-sill a. S is the shaft, and

B the lowe'rcompartment shown in line with the shaft. Ata' is shown an outlet through During normal operation the water in the shaft S is at aheight equal to that ofthe water in the reservoir from which the water flows into the gallery G from the right, considering Fig. 1 except for the loss occurring by friction of the Water in the gallery. If the load varies, the velocity of the water in the gallery cannot suddenly adapt. itself to the changed demand; the water: chamber B then acts as an elastic member,taking up excess of water from the gallery when the load decreases, and letting water pass into the gallery'when the load increases, until the velocity of water passing through the gallery has adapted itself to the new load. 7

Now, if, while the chamber is filled, there should occur. a sudden-increase in the load,

because of the greater demand, the water level in the shaft S will drop quickly to the lower edge of'suction sill Z2 exposing said lower edge. In that case, air will be sucked aroundthe sill into the compartment B, and the demand for water will be supplied fro-m the, water in the compartment B, and as long water leyel in theshaft S will be'constantly automatically regulated to the same height,

as water flows from said compartment, the

since every change in the water level will iin mediately provoke a corresponding opposing changelof the admission of air into the com part1nent B;' I I I I i The object of the suction sill is to lower the level in the shaft S as quickly as possible; the I quicker the level in the shaft S- drops, the quicker is the acceleration of the water in the gallery,"and the lessspace is required for the Water chamber or the lower compartment 1 B. Were the suction sill omitted, the lever Y in the shaftS upon an increase in the lead Cir would first drop only to the upper edge of compartment '13, and then drop slowly together with the falling of level in this compartment. The suction sill, therefore, causes a more rapid acceleration in the flow 'inthe gallery and therefore, a definite andcornputable reduction in the volume of the compartment l3.

Thus, by the simple arrangement of the suction-sill '7),there. isebtamecLthe efi'ect that aside from the rapid lowering of the Water level in theshaft during the entire period of the emptying'of the compartment 1%, the greatest possible drop of pressure becomes zwaiiahle for theawceier iIl Oif :the Water ill the supply gallery so that the acceleration -.periodis considerably shortened and econonly in space is obtained.

Instead ofipermitting theair tobe sacked around the lower of the sill '5) through the-mass of Water, which thereby would become stirred up, an air-duct .0 may be provided in the sill has shown in Fig. l, which :air-duct permits the air toepass into the upper portion of the compartment :B/ The Water level, therefore, will remain undisturbed, and further economy rinrspace may he '=ohtainiecl thereby, as the compartment may line with the compartment B is arranged latf -erally thereof, asclearlyshown 1n the draw- "ljhis modification shows the chamber as an elon a tefl relatively narrow chamber, but obviously the chamber inay be designed to meet any specified need for a reserve water supply. This modification has no air thzct a such as shown inFi 1.

In themodificatiou SllOWil in l 5 and 6, in which the tivo compartmentsof .ie u ater- -cham'ber are shown above groumh'the upper compartment is designated byA", the lower compartment by HT, and the gallery i Whereas S is the sh "ft, which passes through the tivo chambers, terminating in merit B atb'@ compart- At the upper end of compartment B are provided "openings cl through Which the air may escape be refilled.

I claim: v

1. In a Waterchamber of the type described, a shaft, a reservoir compartment communicating with the lower end of the so that the compartinen-t- B may id shaft, said lower end projecting into said reservoir compartment.

2. In a \vaterchamber of the type de scribed, a shaft, a reservoir compartment communicating With the upper end of said shaft, and a second reservoir compartment.

communicating With the lower end of said shaft, the latter extending through said two compartments and terminating intermediate the top and bottom lDOIlZlQIl ofeach coinpartmerit.

3.111 a Water chamber of the type described, a shaft, a reservoir compartment ceinmunlcatmg with the upper end of said shaft, a second reservoir compartment com- 1nunicatingwith the lower endof said shaft, the latter extending through both said compartments and terminating intermediate the top and bottom portion o f-saidsecond compartment, and an air conduit leading from the'lower edgeof tl18SllZiffhtO the upper portionof said second compartment.

4. In a Water chamber ofthe type described, .a shaft, a reservoir compartment communicating a'vi-t-h the lower end of said shaft, theloiver edgeof said shaft-extending intozsaid coii'ipartinent, and a narrow air passage leading from said edgeto the upper portion .of' said compartment.

5. In a water chamber of the type described, a shaft, a reservoir compartmentcommunicating with the upper end of said shaft, a reservoir compartment C(Hlllllllllle eating witlrtlie lower end of said shaft said lower end of theshaft extending into said lower compartment.

in testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

- KARL KAMMULLE R. 

